Description

SHORTLISTED FOR THE SUNDAY TIMES SPORTS BOOK AWARDS 2023 – SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT BOOK OF THE YEAR

‘What Ned hasn’t seen on a sports TV channel isn’t worth knowing about.’
Gabby Logan
‘From falling out with Mourinho to flying with Gerrard, this is a wonderful journey through football.’
Henry Winter

Square Peg, Round Ball is a candid, insightful reminiscence on a life in football.

Although best known as ITV’s commentator on the Tour de France, Ned Boulting has spent most of his professional life covering football.

Follow Ned’s journey from football supporter to reporter – from criss-crossing the country in a banger of a car hoping for a word or two from the latest big signing, to the glamour of the Champions League. Ned really has been there, done that, and got the Sky Sports jacket to prove it.

Witnessing the shenanigans, the machinations and the idiocy of football at close quarters Ned shares his best stories with affection. Whether it’s treading mud into Steven Gerrard’s pristine white carpets, or nearly being pushed into oncoming traffic by a menacing Vinnie Jones, or being chased away from Roman Abramovich’s house by some scary looking men on quadbikes – Ned has made a fool of himself to bring us the best tales from his experiences in 90s and 2000s football.

Publisher Review

BELIEVABLE! * Chris Kamara * From falling out with Mourinho to flying with Gerrard, this is a wonderful journey through football. Insightful and funny * Henry Winter, chief football writer, The Times * A bouncy, amusing and honest reminiscence. This is Ned in a nutshell. * Jim Beglin, BT Sport co-commentator and former Irish professional footballer * A great read by one of sport's good guys. * Jonathan Liew, sports writer, The Guardian * Ned has seen it all from the excesses and madness of Sky Sports in the early years to the revolving door of ITV Sport which he stayed firmly on the right side of. What Ned hasn't seen on a sports TV channel isn't worth knowing about. * Gabby Logan * A beautiful love letter to a love no longer felt. * Adrian Chiles * An elegant, stirring and often joyful journey through football and masculinity * Musa Okwonga * A funny, warm and wise book about football and the perpetual struggle to reach adulthood * Harry Pearson * Ned's perspective on football was always like no other - on one hand an amusingly stubborn refusal to succumb to its self-importance; on the other, a fascinated engagement with its narratives and culture. I promise you - nobody saw the game quite like he did * Peter Drury *